Hot 'n' Healthy - Barre classes in the Lowcountry

Barre workouts are one of the latest fitness trends to provide real results in creating long, lean muscles without bulk. This ballet and Pilates inspired workout combines low impact exercises that strengthen and stretch your body. A barre class is a total body workout that lifts your seat, tones your thighs and burns fat in record-breaking time. This is a fast, effective, and safe way to change your body. Known in Hollywood as the class that “lifts” everything, it is now being offered in Bluffton. Let me show you one of our initial workouts and you will see what all the barre buzz is about.

THE THIGH TONER

Start position: Face the bar, forearms distance away. Legs can be squeezing together or place a small ball between the knees.

Movement: Bend your knees into a half squat position keeping your body upright (beginners feet are flat; intermediate feet are in releve or heels lifted). Stay down in the squat position and perform the following movements:

• Shake hips side to side 12 reps (lift 1 hip up toward shoulder, then other side, repeat)

• Squat full range 8-12 reps (from standing to half squat)

Finishing Quad Stretch: Stand upright. Grab right foot with right hand. Tuck pelvis and keep knees close together. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat other side.

THE BUTT BURNER

Equipment (optional): Small ball, like a playground ball

Start position: Hold a small ball behind your right knee. Place your forearms on the bar with your head down near your forearms. Upper body is parallel to the ground with a straight spine. Keep your standing leg slightly bend and directly underneath your hip. It is important to keep your abs engaged throughout the exercise.

Note: If you are not using a ball then keep your knees bent at 90 degrees for all exercises.

Movement: Right leg performs 8-12 repetitions of all the following exercises then repeat on the left side: